Biggie & Tupac: The Story Behind the Murder of Rap's Biggest Superstar
by Nick Broomfield
List Price:
Our Price: $2.97
You Save: $3.00 (50%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Nick BroomfieldDirector: Nick Broomfield
Brand: VIS
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 107 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-03-22
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Razor & Tie Theatric
Product features:
- In this probing documentary from director Nick Broomfield, the notoriously abrasive Englishman conducts his own investigation of two separate drive-by shootings that took the lives of rappers Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur in the late 1990s. Starting with the original police investigations, Broomfield attempts to knit together pieces of information while establishing the framework of the Los Angel
DVD Reviews of Biggie & Tupac: The Story Behind the Murder of Rap's Biggest Superstar
DVD Review: Very Good Documentary on Biggie & Tupac
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a documentary about Tupac Shakur (2Pac) and Christopher Wallace (Notorious BIG), who were popular rap music stars in the 1990's, but they were both murdered in their mid-20's barely 6 months apart from each other. Both crimes have never been solved, and British documentarian Nick Broomfield attempts to patch together some possible answers, involving various people either connected to the two artists or to the murder investigation.
Pros:
Broomfield reveals his own shortcomings and fears along the way, debunking the "fearless journalist" image that many in today's news culture like to promote. He apparently accepts an off-camera scolding from Voletta Wallace early on (his narration mentions it), when word comes back to her on his unannounced visits to some of Biggie (Wallace)'s old Brooklyn hang out spots.
Some standout interviews include:
Biggie's mother, Voletta Wallace. She is very passionate and forthcoming in assessing the things that went right and went wrong in her son's life.
The high school teacher who Tupac allegedly considered a foster father of sorts; he claims that Tupac had the range to do Shakespeare, having gone to school at a Performing Arts academy.
Tupac's real father is interviewed, and looks like him; the footage is relatively short, concerning him, however-- especially since Afeni is not interviewed.
The ex-cops who were associated with Tupac, or LAPD, who offer lots of interesting views from their perspective on what happened..
shortly after Tupac's death, A bookkeeper who claims that he was paid money to arrange the murder of Biggie Smalls.
A former bodyguard of Biggie who ID's the alleged gunman who shot at Biggie the night he died.. the alleged party, known by name, has to date, never been charged.
Cons:
No involvement from Tupac's mother, Afeni Shakur. Given that the Afeni-supported "Tupac: Resurrection" movie (MTV Films) came only a few years later, it is unknown whether she was in negotiations to start that project at the time that Mr. Broomfield began his work, or if she simply just wasn't interested in him for other reasons.
The interview with Suge Knight isn't very revelatory about the murder incident, but given Suge is an incarcerated felon and his history of gangster ethics, it was doubtful he'd set himself up to be labeled as a "snitch" over Tupac's death, whether he was involved or not.
No interviews are seen with anyone representing the LAPD. You have testimony from former officers, but none from LAPD officials themselves. it is unknown if Broomfield attempted to interview anyone from the LAPD.
Assessment: Broomfield comes away with the conclusion that parties at Death Row Records were involved with the deaths of both Tupac and Biggie; accomplices would be parties at the Los Angeles Police Department, cops who moonlighted as "security" for the label who were allegedly crooked and involved with drug trafficking.
Bonus footage includes interviews that didn't make the main film, discographies for both artists, an interview with the filmmaker, and information about the Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation.
Description of Biggie & Tupac: The Story Behind the Murder of Rap's Biggest Superstar
Synopsis:Item Type: Unknown Type
Item Rating: NR
Street Date: 03/11/08
Wide Screen: no
Director Cut: no
Special Edition: no
LanguageENGLISH
Foreign Film: no
Subtitlesno
Dubbed: no
Full Frame: yes
Re-Release: no
Packaging: Sleeve Please note: This supplier will be closed on 11/24, 11/25, 12/26, 1/2 for the holidays. The shipping cut off is 12/10 to try and have the products delivered by Christmas.
It would be an exaggeration to say that Nick Broomfield solved the murders of Biggie and Tupac. Nonetheless, he makes a convincing case as to who the perpetrators were and why they weren't brought to justice. Broomfield (Kurt and Courtney), who narrates and appears on camera, comes across like a scruffy Robin Leach, but he's done his homework and sniffs out the clues with the tenacity of a bloodhound. Time and again, he refuses to be intimidated--even when his life appears to be at stake. Fortunately, he was able to convince Voletta Wallace, beloved mother of Biggie Smalls (a.k.a. the Notorious B.I.G.), to cooperate, and that opened many doors. Unfortunately, Afeni Shakur, Tupac's mother, refused to participate or to allow access to his music. She had nothing to fear. Broomfield is fair to both rappers, although the soundtrack is all-Biggie. Easily one of the most fascinating documentaries of 2002. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Bestsellers in DVD
![The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS]Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS]by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops:
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
![Strike the Original Match [VHS] Image](/images/Strike-the-Original-Match-VHS-0001374079-X.jpg)
Strike the Original Match [VHS]New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] Image](/images/Medjugorje-The-Miracles-and-the-Message-VHS-0001373293-X.jpg)
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops:
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single Userby Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops:
Cost Accounting [VHS]by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Tupac Shakur - Thug Angel (The Life of an Outlaw)Image Entertainment; Release date: 2002-04-02; DVD
Best price: $12.95
Price in other shops:
Notorious B.I.G.: Bigger Than LifeImage Entertainment; Release date: 2007-08-28; Published: 2007-08-01; DVD
Best price: $4.24
Price in other shops:
2Pac - Greatest HitsRelease date: 1998-11-24; Music CD
Best price: $16.99
Price in other shops:
Tupac Shakur - Tupac Three-Pack (Before I Wake / Thug Immortal / Tupac VS.)Universal Studios; Release date: 2008-02-26; DVD
Best price: $6.15
Price in other shops:
Murder Rap: The Untold Story of the Biggie Smalls & Tupac Shakur Murder Investigations by the Detective Who Solved Both Casesby Greg Kading
One Time Publishing; Published: 2011-09-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.42
Price in other shops:
Tupac - Resurrection (Widescreen Edition)PARAMOUNT HOME VIDEO; Release date: 2004-06-15; DVD
Best price: $19.99
Welcome to Death Row (The Signature Series)Universal Studios; Release date: 2001-09-25; DVD
Best price: $4.52
Price in other shops:
Tupac Uncensored and Uncut: The Lost Prison TapesNew Video; Release date: 2011-01-25; DVD
Best price: $7.49
Price in other shops:
Tupac AssassinationTupac; Release date: 2009-01-27; DVD
Best price: $2.99
Price in other shops:
Notorious (Single-Disc Edition)WOOLARD,JAMAL; Release date: 2009-04-21; Published: 2009-04-01; DVD
Best price: $3.50
Price in other shops: